Wayne Law News

The 2016 Wayne Law Golf Outing on Monday, June 6, raised more than $25,000, nearly 30 percent more than last year’s outing, for Wayne Law scholarships.

All alumni are invited to the Wayne Law Reunion on Friday, Oct. 14. A cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception is planned. The classes of 2006 and 2011 will be honored.

His ability to impact issues of fairness is what entices Stanley Pitts, '81, to practice labor law, whether he’s representing employers or employees.

Thank you to the six donors who joined the Dean's Circle by making a gift or pledge of $1,000 or more to the Law School’s annual fund during second quarter 2016.

Wayne State University students will be able to earn a bachelor's degree and a law degree in six years through a new LawStart program.

Tishia Browning, '14, has been appointed director of employer development in Wayne Law’s Career Services office.

Five Wayne Law students have been chosen to study and work abroad this summer through fellowships and internships sponsored by the Law School’s Program for International Legal Studies.

Students Megan Baxter and Michelle Lenning have been awarded 2016 scholarships from the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation.

Husnah Khan, a rising second-year student, was awarded a 2016 AmeriCorps JD Fellowship through her work as a summer intern at the University of Michigan’s Innocence Clinic. Also, she has been appointed deputy lieutenant governor of public interest for the American Bar Association Law Student Division’s Sixth Circuit.

Nicole Lockhart, a rising third-year student, was awarded the A. Kay Stanfield Spinks Law Student Scholarship by the D. Augustus Straker Bar Foundation.

Amelia Zelenak, an incoming first-year student for fall 2016 at Wayne Law, was awarded the Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial Scholarship by the Federal Circuit Bar Association.

Students admitted to Wayne Law for fall 2016 participated in an Experience Detroit Open House presented Friday, June 10, by Admissions.

George A. Franklin of Kalamazoo has been appointed to the bipartisan advisory board for the Levin Center at Wayne Law.

Assistant Professor Kirsten Matoy Carlson has been selected to receive the WSU Academy of Scholars Junior Faculty Award for the 2016-17 academic year.

Upcoming Events

Aug. 5 - Mark Weiss Day at Comerica Park 2016

Oct. 14 - Wayne Law Reunion

More Events

Alumni Accomplishments

Terry Bonnette, '04, a partner with Nemeth Law PC, spoke to the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce regarding changes to the white collar overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. He also co-presented a webinar regarding these changes. In addition, he co-presented "Dealing with the Problem Employee" at Nemeth Law's Raising the Bar series and "Litigation Developments and Trends: Gender Identity in the Workplace" for a large insurance group in Pittsburgh. Bonnette also spoke at the Healthcare Association of Michigan Upper Peninsula Education Conference in Marquette; presentation subjects were "Hot Topics in Labor Law" and "The Employer vs. Employee in Social Media Policies."

Hon. James Brady, '79, of the 47th District Court received the 2016 Distinguished Public Servant award from the Oakland County Bar Association.

Deborah Brouwer, '80, a partner with Nemeth Law PC, co-presented "Dealing with the Problem Employee" at Nemeth Law's Raising the Bar series. She also co-presented "Litigation Developments and Trends: Gender Identity in the Workplace" for a large insurance group in Pittsburgh.

Richard J. Burstein, '69, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked a senior statesman in real estate by Chambers USA.

Michael Butterfield, '14, was named an associate at Brinker & Doyen in Clayton, Missouri.

Gregory J. DeMars, '81, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked band three in real estate by Chambers USA.

Clint Gage, '95, a member of Dickinson Wright, leads the law firm's newest office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is featured in a report in South Florida's Daily Business Review.

Michael Goecke, '98, a litigation attorney at Lerch Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland, was selected to receive The Daily Record's 2016 Leadership in Law Award.

Barry Goldman, '80, co-wrote the book Opinions - Essays on Lawyering, Litigation and Arbitration, the Placebo Effect, Chutzpah, and Related Matters. He is an arbitrator and mediator and a Wayne Law adjunct professor.

Raymond W. Henney, '83, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked band three in general commercial litigation by Chambers USA.

Jason Hillman, '01, vice president and general counsel for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was featured in a Bloomberg Big Law Business report, Game 1 of 3: Warriors & Cavs GCs on Life as an NBA Lawyer.

Paul Isso, '11, relocated the Isso Law Firm to Tempe, Arizona. His firm focuses primarily on criminal defense but also accepts certain civil cases and entertainment law matters.

Kenneth Marcus, '84, authored the lead article for the June issue of American Health Lawyers Association Connections magazine. His article is A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The PRRB: The Amended Cost Report and Appeals Rules. Marcus is a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP in Detroit.

Lawrence D. McLaughlin, '77, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked a star individual in real estate by Chambers USA.

David Michael, '03, an attorney at Lipson Neilson Cole Seltzer Garin PC and chair of the Oakland County Bar Association's Real Estate Committee, participated in a panel discussion on environmental due diligence in real estate. This event was presented by the Energy, Sustainability and Environmental and Real Estate Law committees of the Oakland County Bar Association, with the support of the Michigan Commercial Board of Realtors.

Lanae Monera, '96, has joined Plunkett Cooney. She focuses her practice on motor vehicle liability and works in the firm's Grand Rapids office.

Tim Murphy, '12, was elected a shareholder at Carlson Gaskey & Olds PC in Birmingham.

Hon. Debra Nance, '99, has been elected 2016-17 president of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan. She is a judge of the 46th District Court.

Patricia Nemeth, '84, LL.M. '90, founder of Nemeth Law in Detroit, co-presented a webinar regarding changes to the white collar overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Trevor Salaski, '10, has been named chief legal officer at Hello Innovation in Detroit.

William D. Sargent, '85, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked band three in labor and employment by Chambers USA.

Samuel T. Stahl, '82, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked band three in corporate/mergers & acquisitions by Chambers USA.

Emily Thomas, '12, was a finalist for the State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section's Regeana Myrick Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. Thomas is an associate birth injury attorney at Reiter & Walsh PC in Bloomfield Hills.

I.W. Winsten, '79, a partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, was ranked band three in litigation: general commercial by Chambers USA.


More Alumni Accomplishments

Student Accomplishments

Lance Bruck was featured in the Oakland County Legal News for its report, Law student works to prevent homelessness.

Jonathan Demers was featured in the Detroit Legal News for its report, Pitching in: Wayne Law student helps to rejuvenate Detroit's eastside.

Susan Gleich was featured in the Detroit Legal News for its report, Double duty: Wayne Law student interns with state and federal judges.

Jasmin Haynes was featured in the Detroit Legal News for its report, Urban renewal: Wayne Law student co-founded 'Builders of Promise' in Detroit.

Jessica Hoyer was featured in the Detroit Legal News for its report, State of the union.

Lauren Potocsky wrote Major Federal Food Safety Law Depends on Individual State Enforcement, which was published in The National Law Review. Potocsky is a summer associate at Varnum.

Connor Walby was featured in the Detroit Legal News for its report, D.C. experience sparks passion for the law.


More Student Accomplishments

Faculty Accomplishments

Jocelyn Benson was selected by Crain's Detroit Business as one of the Most Influential Women in Michigan for 2016. Read more here.

Stephen Calkins presented a primer on antitrust law and pleading standards under Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly at the Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan Chapter's antitrust committee lunch and learn event.

Nick Schroeck spoke on a panel at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Colloquium of the Academy of Environmental Law in Oslo, Norway. His topic was "Multijurisdictional response to Lake Erie Algae: International, Federal, State and Provincial Legal Strategies for Combating Nutrient Pollution in the Great Lakes."


More Faculty Accomplishments

Professors in the News

Stephen Calkins was quoted by The Pennsylvania Record for its report, Former FTC attorney: Win in Hershey/Pinnacle merger 'critically important.'

Noah Hall was quoted in media outlets nationwide and throughout Michigan, including The Detroit News report, Schuette: Firms made Flint’s water crisis ‘worse’, after Attorney General Bill Schuette announced civil suits against several companies in the Flint water crisis. Hall, who was appointed a special assistant attorney general in the Flint water contamination crisis, will be leading this civil case.

Peter Hammer was quoted by The American Prospect for its report, Charter and Traditional Public Schools Fight Over Money.

Peter Henning was quoted by Detroit Metro Times for its report, How will the Flint crisis end for Snyder?

Carl Levin was interviewed by The American Interest for its report, Cleaning up the financial world.

John Mogk wrote a guest column, Michigan continues to short change local governments. It appeared in the Macomb Daily, Oakland Press and Daily Tribune.

Robert Sedler was interviewed on WDET-FM for its report, Supreme Court strikes down Texas abortion restrictions.

Peter Henning was cited in The Wall Street Journal's blog post, Supreme Court RICO Ruling Bolsters Criminal Case Against FIFA.

John Mogk was mentioned in C&G Newspapers for its report, Woods joins pending legislation against state of Michigan.

Robert Sedler was quoted by The Detroit News for its report, Michigan's gender ID policy questioned.

Peter Henning was quoted by Reuters for its report, Tesla told regulators about autopilot crash nine days after accident. The story ran in media outlets including The New York Times.

John Mogk was quoted by Crain's Detroit Business for its report, Brewster plan splits; parking an issue.


More Professors in the News